Apex CEO - Grow Your Business & Exit With Luke Peters

Apex CEO with Luke Peters is the podcast for founder-CEOs who want to scale faster, increase profitability, and build their businesses into valuable, sellable assets. As a CEO who bootstrapped, scaled, and sold an $80M+ consumer products brand, Luke Peters knows what it takes to grow—and what traps to avoid. Each episode delivers no-BS insights on strategy, leadership, and profitability, cutting through the noise of generic business advice. You’ll learn real-world tactics from Luke and top-performing CEOs on scaling revenue, mastering pricing, building high-margin products, and navigating exits. Whether you're grinding toward $10M, aiming for $100M, or planning a sale, Apex CEO will give you the playbook. If you’re a founder tired of advice from people who haven’t built real companies, this podcast is for you. Subscribe now and start making the decisions that will take your business to the next level.

What Are You Tracking? Why Most CEOs Measure the Wrong Things 04/02/2025

Now’s the Time to Hire: Why Downturns Are Gold for Finding Talent 03/28/2025

How to Lead Through Uncertainty: A CEO’s Take on Hard Times 03/25/2025

Your Margins Are Too Low! Here’s How to Fix Them Fast 03/20/2025

9 Steps to Make your Business an Irresistible Investment Opportunity 03/18/2025

Reverse Logistics & Returns Management with Paul Adamson from ARC EP101 10/15/2021

Amazon 3P Marketplace Strategy with John Holby EP 100 06/18/2021

Supply Chain Shipping Madness & Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Update – Mark Adkison EP99 06/11/2021

The Underdog Philosophy for Business Excellence-Atul Vir Ep98 06/04/2021

The Underdog Philosophy for Business Excellence-Atul Vir Ep98 How did your business navigate the Covid crisis? Did you learn new innovative ways that grew the business, or did you stagnate in the same old models? To navigate a huge crisis and still grow as a business calls for adopting new models or products that fit in that particular time and moment. In this episode of the Page 1 Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Atul Vir on how his business navigated the 2020 pandemic through innovation after 30 years of operation. Atul Vir is a hands-on CEO, seasoned entrepreneur, inventor, and author. He started his business Equator Advanced Appliances in 1991 which he operates on the principles of strong ethics and superior customer service. Listen in to learn how Atul and his team were able to reimagine and reengineer his company to a favorable and growth position during the pandemic. You will also learn the importance of staying prepared and flexible as a business in any phase of the economy. Key Takeaways: How to focus your business specialization on what the customer needs and wants. The importance of having the product inventory in advance to keep growing a business during a crisis. Why businesses should stay prepared and flexible even after the pandemic. How to use empathy to anticipate customer needs when developing products. Episode Timeline: [2:49] Atul describes the innovative products they sell at Equator Appliances and their focus. [5:00] How they reimagined and reengineered the company during the 2020 pandemic to make it their best year in 30 years. [8:20] The steps and risks they took to overcome the Covid challenges and stay in business. [11:51] How the pandemic taught them to plan for product inventory in advance to avoid delays. [14:48] How they navigated cost increases by introducing newer models that fit in a new selling price. [17:53] Why it’s uncertain whether the cost of production will continue being high or not after the pandemic. [21:02] The innovative outdoor refrigerator and air conditioner Atul came up with, in 2020. [23:11] How Atul has learned to understand the customer needs and wants to innovate products. [25:16] The different markets Equator Appliances has been able to support during the pandemic. [30:22] How some businesses failed during Covid plus how the appliances market will proceed post-pandemic. [33:54] The engagement and support Atul and his team are offering to Covid victims in India. Quotes: “Empathy starts by showing concern for not yourself but your customers.”- Atul [24:41] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/19278608

Launching A Technology Product with Community Building - Helen Thomas Ep97 05/28/2021

Launching A Technology Product with Community Building - Helen Thomas Ep97 How to Properly Launch A Product into The Market with Massive Success Do you have a dream or the goal of successfully launching your product into the market? Have you set up the right strategy to ensure everything works even better than planned? Listen, many elements need to fall into place to ensure that you have a unique product, a ready market for it, and a launching plan set in advice. That’s why, in this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Helen Thomas, she has just helped DMAI successfully launch an artificial intelligence product. Helen is the CEO of DMAI, which is a global general artificial intelligence company. She has for many years grown businesses in the technology, digital media, and now artificial intelligence industries. Listen in to learn the importance of building a community even before the product launch to ensure there is a ready market for it. You will also learn the importance of preparing for the launch in advance, plus simple ways to get you good product reviews. Key Takeaways: How to build a community as part of the marketing campaign during your product’s pre-launch stage. Utilizing consistent earned media to support your paid media to keep your Facebook campaign fresh and results-yielding. How to prepare for your product launch in advance to ensure its success. The importance of adding a human touch to your customer service to ensure good reviews. Episode Timeline: [1:26] Get to know Helen and what they do at DMAI. [2:52] She describes the Virtual Preschool System, Animal Island Learning Adventure they launched. [5:21] DMAI’s scope of operation, the size of their team, and how they were affected by the pandemic. [7:03] The journey of formulating a strategy to create AILA, which became the starting point. [9:31] How they invested heavily to produce their software and hardware original content. [12:37] She explains how they approached the marketing of the product before launching to build its root in the market. [15:56] How to approach Facebook paid and earned media with consistency to see results. [19:10] The type of audience they target for AILA online, especially during the pandemic. [22:08] Why they only direct their traffic to one place which is their website. [25:08] Factors to look into to compliment your business website to be as good in sales as Amazon. [29:39] Helen on how she successfully led the preparation for the product launch. [32:17] The features that make AILA unique, better, and to perform excellently in the market. [35:11] The three simple and guaranteed ways to get you good reviews. [38:02] The importance of creating content based on what you care about to attract and build a community. Quotes: “Dream big and execute day by day, you will get there.”- Helen [41:11] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/19139486

How to Triple Your Amazon Sales - Brian Beck Ep96 05/21/2021

How to Triple Your Amazon Sales - Brian Beck Ep96 How to Approach Selling on Amazon in 2021 How are you approaching your selling on Amazon strategy? Have you diversified your channels or are you solely relying on Amazon? Diversifying your channels as a business is very important instead of solely depending on Amazon. It is also important to first focus on differentiating the product before diversifying the channels. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters interviews Brian Beck, eCommerce expert advisor and author of the Billion Dollar B2B Ecommerce book. He has 20+ years of experience in eCommerce and specializes in creating eCommerce strategies worth hundreds of millions to clients. Listen in to learn the importance of directing outside traffic to your Amazon site rather than your website at the beginning of your marketing campaign. You will also learn why you need to first differentiate your product rather than selling channels. Key Takeaways: How to succeed by expanding your business to multiple channels and not just rely on Amazon. How to increase your visibility on your Amazon site by directing traffic from outside Amazon. How Amazon is working to get rid of fake reviews’ sites that negatively affect businesses. Episode Timeline: [1:14] Brian’s background in the eCommerce sector for the last 22 years. [2:40] How they help businesses grow with Amazon at Enceiba. [4:31] How they help well-established brands navigate Amazon fit into their overall picture. [7:26] Why most businesses are shifting to 3P selling on Amazon over 1P. [10:42] The importance of expanding your retail and distribution channels without solely relying on Amazon. [17:47] How to build your positive reviews using Amazon tools and work to remove the bad ones. [24:20] The advantages of directing traffic to your Amazon site to kickstart your marketing campaign. [29:15] The different software tools that Enceiba has built to help clients navigate Amazon. [34:12] Brian narrates how they helped a certain company transform their Amazon image for the better. Quotes: “At the end of the day, a manufacturer needs to differentiate on product, not on channel.”- Brian [12:47] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/19111505

Making a 3 year Business Growth Strategy Plan – 3HAG - Shannon Susko Ep95 05/14/2021

Making a 3 year Business Growth Strategy Plan – 3HAG - Shannon Susko Ep95 3 HAG WAY: How to Develop a Plan and Build a Confident Team to Succeed in Business Imagine having a business strategy that’s a well-thought-out plan and a culturally strong team to help you succeed. Having a prescriptive framework like the 3 HAG WAY to help you take the guesswork out of your business strategy and to lead your team with confidence. in this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Shannon Susko talk about the 3 HAG WAY methodology and how it helped businesses grow during the pandemic. Shannon has more than twenty years of experience building and leading high-growth technology companies in the financial services industry. She currently serves as a corporate director and a leadership coach helping CEOs and top executives in a variety of industries keep their companies on the path to growth and predictable profit. Listen in to learn how to stop making assumption mistakes and instead adopt the habit of doing market research for facts. You will also learn the vitality of growing a confident team to help you be a confident leader and take your business to the next level. Key Takeaways: The importance of having the patience to build the execution plan and the team. How to collect information and do market research regularly to always have facts, not assumptions. How to have a thought-out plan to reach business success by utilizing a crisis like the pandemic. Episode Timeline: [2:53] How to execute the 3 HAG WAY methodology in business during the pandemic. [5:29] How to wrap all the systems around the strategy by executing the plan and growing the team. [10:49] How the 3 HAG WAY aligns the team with the business’s plan and makes things more objective. [13:27] The mistake of assumptions that many businesses make instead of focusing on the facts. [18:00] The benefits of having thorough and regular market research to have facts in your business. [20:25] How companies using the 3 HAG WAY became proactive in projecting and managing the expectations of stakeholders during the pandemic. [27:08] Shannon talks about her involvement with the Milo's Tea Company and how she helped turn it around during the pandemic. [35:28] The importance of planning and committing to growing your team to achieve your business goals. Quotes: “Assumptions come from not doing the research in the market that we need to.”- Shannon [18:03] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/19083731

Selling your Amazon Product Business - Sarah Dajani Ep94 05/07/2021

Selling your Amazon Product Business - Sarah Dajani Ep94 How to Increase the Chances of your Amazon Business Getting Acquired Have you been thinking of exiting your eCommerce business but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you don’t know whether your business is in the right position to attract good buyers? How about positioning your eCommerce business rightly and taking it to the next level, especially now during the eCommerce high? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters interviews Sarah Dajani, the Vice President of Operations at Boosted Commerce. She’s a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Princeton University and has a Master’s in Business Administration from Stanford University. She explains the lessons of being a good student and the value of staying connected that she learned from Princeton and Stanford. Listen in to learn the importance of trusting the entrepreneurial process and learning as you grow, to succeed. You will also learn how companies like Boosted Commercial are changing the eCommerce business dynamic. Key Takeaways: How to achieve your set goals and excel by putting in the work and trying more than once. The impact of the pandemic on eCommerce, especially on Amazon. The power of having access to knowledge, people, and institution to understand the economy and find success. Episode Timeline: [3:27] Sarah explains how to trust the entrepreneurial process and learn as you grow. [6:16] How she put in the work to get into Princeton and Stanford plus get a job with Bain. [8:15] The lessons of being a good student and the importance of staying connected she learned from Princeton and Stanford. [11:34] How Boosted Commerce buys and grows eCommerce businesses. [15:39] How she works with brand managers at Boosted to grow and maintain those brands. [17:56] The relationship that Boosted aims to build with eCommerce business owners during and after purchasing their businesses. [20:31] The importance of positioning your eCommerce business to the next level to prepare for exit. [22:44] Why the valuation of eCommerce businesses has changed over time. [26:44] Understanding what Amazon will and will not become over the long term. [31:27] She explains why companies like Boosted are here to grow businesses on Amazon and not chase them away. [35:21] The different ways to have access to knowledge, the right education, and the right network. Quotes: “What Amazon’s system rewards companies for is bringing additional traffic to the platform.”- Sarah [31:56] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18964091

Built to Sell: How to Exit with Private Equity- Sean Belnick Ep93 04/30/2021

Built to Sell: How to Exit with Private Equity- Sean Belnick Ep93 Built to Sell: How to Exit in Private Equity Have you been thinking of selling your business but don’t understand how to go about it? The process of selling a business is a complex one that can take up to several months and in some cases end up not happening. That is why in this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Sean Belnick to share how he successfully exited his business after growing it from $0 to $300 million in value. Sean founded Belnick, Inc in 2001 and successfully completed an exit in early 2017, and transitioned to a full-time board member in 2019. Belnick, Inc continues to remain one of the largest distributors of furniture to internet-enabled retailers and services tens of thousands of customers nationwide. Listen in to understand the process of successfully selling a business without jeopardizing its values and objectives. You will also learn why selling to the highest bidder isn’t necessarily the best thing for your business. Key Takeaways: Why it is challenging to sell a business that requires large working capital. The importance of ensuring you and the investors see things the same way before creating a purchase agreement. Why selling your business value is not the most critical part of the selling process. How to be successful in business by staying true to your values and focusing on customer needs. Episode Timeline: [1:55] Sean describes what Belnick Inc. does, which is to primarily distribute office furniture. [4:49] The benefits of starting a West Coast office as an East Coast distribution company. [7:00] How he scaled Belnick Inc. from $0 to $300 million from 2001 to 2021. [9:01] Why it was difficult to sell Belnick Inc. over the years and how they improved to appeal to investors. [13:06] Things to pay close attention to, to sell your business at the right time and for what it’s worth. [16:07] The process of going to market, how they approached the purchase agreement, and the challenges they encountered. [20:12] Making sure your business values and objectives are in alignment with those you sell your business to. [22:14] Sean describes the time consumption and hurdles they faced during the sale process. [28:17] The long-term equity versus making more profits perspectives that Sean and his buyers had. [30:59] He explains how he transitioned from a CEO to a full-time board member. [33:20] The importance of working hard and solving a customer’s problems to create a successful brand. [37:49] He talks about his latest passion for helping small business owners and people with ideas. Quotes: “The person who invents the idea isn’t necessarily the one who monetizes it the best way.”- Sean Belnick [36:28] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18866723

Amazon 1P vs 3P selling secrets and strategy ideas – Dr. Robin Gaster Ep92 04/23/2021

Amazon 1P vs 3P selling secrets and strategy ideas – Dr. Robin Gaster Ep92 Dr. Robin Gaster: How to Approach Selling on Amazon for Business Success Is it time for you to make the exclusive brands’ partnership program with Amazon? How will having a deal with Amazon to market your brand on their marketplace benefit your brand? Is it worth it or even smart to completely leave it to Amazon to handle your brand on their platform? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Dr. Robin Gaster to discuss Amazon’s exclusive brands, 3P vs. 1P, and Amazon’s private label. He’s the CEO of Incumetrics, a data and analytics firm focused primarily on innovation, and a visiting scholar at George Washington University. He has a master’s degree in philosophy and a PhD in political science from Berkeley. Listen in to learn why you should focus on building and strengthening your brand outside of Amazon to become successful. You will also learn why going 3P on Amazon will lead to more success in your business than selling 1P. Key Takeaways: Why you shouldn’t rely on Amazon to build your brand. How to avoid the risk of 1P on Amazon by making 3P successful for your business. Why the possibility of Amazon’s private-label going away is high leaving it a marketplace only. The importance of building and owning your brand outside of Amazon. Episode Timeline: [1:35] Robin describes the strategy and data evaluation work he does for government agencies. [5:53] Understanding why Amazon is building exclusive brand partnerships. [10:50] The disadvantage of Chinese manufacturers selling directly to US consumers through Amazon. [16:38] Why the idea of Amazon’s idea of building exclusive brand partnerships will not benefit your business. [26:40] Why Amazon is pushing companies from 1P to 3P and why you should make your 3P successful. [29:58] Amazon’s private-label business and its difference from the exclusive brands’ program. [33:23] Why Amazon’s exclusive brand partnerships are more of Amazon’s business rather than building brands. [39:20] Why Amazon’s private label isn’t significantly growing due to its low unit price. [42:17] Dr. Robin explains why there’s no possibility of a worthy Amazon competitor now and in the future. [43:42] Why Amazon should focus on healthcare in the next 5 years. [45:03] Dr. Robin talks about his book and how it explores the topic of Amazon. Quotes: “Make sure you got the right team and don’t try and overpower the team as the founder.”- Robin [4:19] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18643247

Leadership Lessons and Pivoting for Growth– Jim Schleckser Ep91 04/16/2021

Leadership Lessons and Pivoting for Growth– Jim Schleckser Ep91 How to be a Good CEO That Succeeds in Business Growth – with Jim Schleckser Are you a good CEO or just an average CEO? Do you look for the point of constraint in the business or just sit around not understanding what the job is? Great CEOs are effective and don’t work crazy hours to meet their goals; they instead look for constraints and work towards untying them to continue growing the business. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, we have Jim Schleckser, he helps leaders grow companies. He and his team at the Inc. CEO Project work with over 100 CEOs of high growth companies to identify and obliterate the things that stand between them and continued organizational success. Jim has over 30 years of leadership in business strategy, technology businesses, process improvement, organizational development, mergers and acquisitions, engineering, and sales and marketing. Listen in to learn how to find ‘kinks’ or constraints in your business as the CEO and work towards untying them together with your team. You will also learn the power of crafting a great customer experience for your business to succeed in the eCommerce space. Key Takeaways: Why you shouldn’t share all your vision points with your team at once. How to be a good communicator to your team by meeting them where they are and framing your message how they’ll understand. How to be flexible with your planning and not be bound by annual planning. How to build a surprising and fun quality to differentiate your business online and offline. Episode Timeline: [1:52] Jim shares his experience climbing Kilimanjaro. [5:19] The difference between good CEOs and average CEOs in problem-solving and effectiveness. [7:54] A story of a CEO who pivoted and continued to grow the business during the pandemic. [11:47] How not to make the mistake of sharing your vision points with the team all at one go. [16:20] How to effectively communicate as a leader by meeting your message receiver where they are. [21:22] How to approach new ideas with the team by either shifting or adding the talent. [26:38] How to craft your customer experience to perform great in eCommerce. [37:21] Jim explains why they spend most of their time driving for business growth. [38:48] The importance of innovating and improving your business model to continue growing your business. [42:17] He talks about his new book Professional Drinking, which is about networking confidently. Quotes: “Great leaders are thoughtful about their audience, and they frame and share the message in a way that their audience can receive it.”- Jim [18:43] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18454196

How Malcolm Fontier learned from a failed business to build a brand focused business – Malcom Fontier Ep79 04/13/2021

How Malcolm Fontier learned from a failed business to build a brand focused business – Malcom Fontier Ep79 Why You Should Build A Business Around Your Passions Thinking of starting a business, how about starting one that aligns with your passion? The truth is that you’re more likely to succeed in what you enjoy doing than in something you don’t. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Malcolm Fontier, an industrial designer environmentalist and the founder of Pakt & SeaHive. Pakt creates thoughtfully designed and responsibly sourced travel accessories, while SeaHive helps prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans. Malcolm explains the lessons he learned from a failed business and then designed a business built around his passions. Listen in to learn the importance of a work-life balance to ensure you remain efficient and productive in both areas. You will also learn why having fewer options in your business will make it easier for you to operate it successfully. Key Takeaways: The importance of developing a work-life balance to ensure efficiency and forward progress. Understanding how having fewer options in your business make running things easier and efficient. How to create a brand that is more human and is focused on creating great relations with its customers. The power of optimizing and delegating to be productive, not just busy. Episode Timeline: [1:46] Malcolm explains the travel products his business produces, plus the direct-to-consumer business strategy they use. [4:16] He describes his small team and the tech tools they utilize to run the business. [6:10] How they give priority to profit margins, sales margins, and producing quality products as their three main KPIs. [9:00] Malcolm narrates what led to the failure of his first business and how it contributed to him venturing into sustainable travel bag production. [14:58] How Malcolm balances his work and life by giving his all to both. [17:18] Why he doesn’t think of his business as a lifestyle business but as something they can build and hopefully sell in the future. [19:37] Malcolm explains the few options that have made business operations easier for him. [21:59] How to establish a community of customers around good and long-term relationships. [26:18] He explains why they focus on being profitable on the first order and breaks down the conversion rate of their products. [30:59] Why you should pursue a business that aligns with your passion, plus work smart to free up your time. Quotes: “Whatever business you’re going to pursue, make sure that the core business activity aligns you’re your strengths and interests.”- Malcolm [31:01] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18305369

Coming to America: How International Companies Can Enter The USA Market- Fernando Cariello Ep89 04/02/2021

Coming to America: How International Companies Can Enter The USA Market- Fernando Cariello Ep89 Coming to America: What You Need to Know About Expanding Your Business to the US Market Have you been thinking of expanding your business to the US market? Different markets operate differently due to different trade regulations and consumer behaviors. It is important to have the right information and support when entering the US market to ensure success. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Fernando Cariello about the dos and don’ts when penetrating the US business market. Fernando has 29 years of international experience, 23 years in High Tech, and 16 years supporting IT companies to establish operations in the US. He’s a partner of the incubator CuboStart, under the lean startup concept, and co-founder of Base Miami, an accelerator supporting technology companies to develop business globally using Miami as a platform. He’s also a mentor and investor in technology-based companies, with 9 current portfolio companies, and 4 exits. Listen in to learn how and why some businesses fail and others succeed in the US market. You will also learn about the common mistakes you should avoid when entering the US market to avoid failure at first glance. Key Takeaways: How to understand the difference between your country and the US market and consumer behaviors. How to use your creativity and start a business in an unpopular niche that makes more money than the popular niches. The importance of having financial capabilities when expanding your business to the US market. Episode Timeline: [2:31] He explains how they help overseas companies that want to operate in the US. [4:48] How overseas businesses fail in the US for not understanding their market or adopting the US way of doing business. [7:52] He explains how a Brazilian tech company succeeded in the US market doubling its profits and size. [9:52] Understanding the difference between your country’s market and the US market, plus the Americans purchasing behaviors. [13:50] The impact of how trade laws, regulations, and restrictions work in different countries like Brazil and how they work in the US. [17:54] The importance of starting a business in an unpopular niche since that is where the money is, plus an example in the food business. [21:56] How to start your business with a business model canvas to help guide you. [24:45] Fernando explains the common mistakes that businesses make when expanding to the US market. [27:56] He advises on the importance of maintaining good relationships with the people who closely relate to your business. Quotes: “Americans don’t buy based on pricing; they buy based on value and risk assessment.”- Fernando [10:41] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18195251

Commodity price increase & USA Made Commando Lock - Matt Damman Ep88 03/26/2021

Commodity price increase & USA Made Commando Lock - Matt Damman Ep88 How to Pitch Products to Major Retailers Plus Surviving the Impacts of the Pandemic How did the pandemic transform your business’s operations and sales efforts? We have to admit that even with the many challenges we faced during the pandemic, many businesses have adapted through the adversity to become even better in their operations. In this episode of Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Matt Damman about the positive and the negative impacts of the pandemic on the newly transformed Commando Lock. Matt is the CEO of Commando Lock company in Michigan, a growing manufacture of military-grade padlocks and security systems, and an entrepreneur. Listen in to learn how the increase in the cost of raw materials and challenges with labor is affecting production processes. You will also learn the different ways you can pitch your product to major retailers. Key Takeaways: How to successfully pitch your products to different retailers The impact of the raw materials like brass and steel cost increase The uncertainty in sales performance for most businesses caused by the current world inflation How challenging times force you to refine your product and become more efficient in what you do Episode Timeline: [2:10] Matt describes what they do at Commando Lock, which is manufacturing military-grade locks. [3:57] He talks about the delays and sales growth they experienced during the pandemic. [6:40] The big companies they have been able to pitch to over the last several months. [9:14] He explains how to pitch products to major retailers through cold calling and presentation. [14:19] How their sales have been performing on different platforms plus how they were shut down on Google. [20:36] The raw materials cost increase and labor challenges that Commando Lock has experienced since the pandemic. [27:31] Why Commando Lock is highly contemplating cost increases to cover the production cost. [29:55] Matt explains their funding through credit and private investors to keep them afloat. [32:37] How they’ve been forced by the pandemic to become more efficient in manufacturing. [35:14] Matt explains their plans of getting into Home Depot and not taking out the competition. Quotes: “Our products were well packaged. Retail quality packaging. We had UPCs. We were able to walk in and say that we were EDI compliant.” /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18195230

Moving from Amazon Vendor Central to Amazon Seller Central Ken Kline Ep87 03/19/2021

Moving from Amazon Vendor Central to Amazon Seller Central Ken Kline Ep87 Ken Kline: How to Adapt to Changes to achieve a more Profitable Business (From Traditional to Online) How do you handle changes from a business perspective? How does it affect your goal in achieving a profitable marketplace? In this episode, Luke Peters speaks with Ken Kline about how his business burned down and resurrected it from the ashes. Ken Kline, is helping clients at all retail levels to maximize their business model while operating with best practice in VHC Brands, Inc. He enjoys working with all levels of the business but has a particular emphasis on Product Development, Sales, and Creative/Marketing. Learn the value of using mass retail marketplaces instead of traditional, curated retailers. The importance of moving forward despite the big impact of certain problems, its effects in the business, and how to adjust with the changes that needs to be done. The importance of being resilient and being able to find ways to stand out. Key Takeaways: How important to implement profit and how you expand your contributors. How to leverage the major marketplace platforms to become a leader in the field. The importance of building core data. Episode Timeline: [1:52] He describes the types of products that they create and sell. [2:18] He talks about their biggest customers that they work with, footprint, location, and the number of team members. [3:23] Talked about the private label in Amazon [4:16] Talking about if it is a consignment or taking full ownership [5:26] About square footage and number of team members [6:12] About where their imports come from [7:28] The marginal goal that they went and how they set it up [11:05] Deciding which customers they were contributing the most profit [14:56] Talks about the price increases, biggest contributors [16:33] Net margin points gained [17:36] Talked about the give and take why they moved over [18:22] Talked about their bottleneck [22:11] About the core Netsuite [25:42] NetSuite and managing international warehouses [33:52] His decision as to why he made the changes and what were the results [37:04] if there were problems they encounter about jack up prices. [41:24] How the future looks like and they are in full control [46:52] What he learned the most that he can share with business owners & Key Business Takeaway Quotes: “So, my first piece of advice is if anyone had come out of a business in 2020, not thinking they need some kind of planning, please get a plan.” [48:52] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18111863

How Dansons Family Business Managed 40% Growth – Jeff Thiessen EP86 03/12/2021

How Dansons Family Business Managed 40% Growth – Jeff Thiessen EP86 Achieving Authentic Business Growth During the Pandemic What is the strategy to successfully growing a privately owned and funded business, especially during COVID? Hiring the right people as part of your team and striving for authenticity make all the difference in growing a business. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Jeff Thiessen on massive business growth and hiring right during the pandemic. Jeff is the President and International Sales Manager for Dansons Inc. He has held various positions within a hearth distribution company and spent several years learning all aspects of the hearth and BBQ industry, including sales, transportation, and distribution. Listen in to learn the importance of acquiring and retaining highly valuable people to drive the growth of your company. You will also learn how to approach effective and authentic marketing strategies. Key Takeaways: How COVID taught businesses to plan ahead to be prepared for any possible crisis. The importance of having the right team to help manage things when planning ahead. How to strategically grow a family-owned and funded business. The value of hiring leaders and teams for their teachable attitude and skillsets and not their academic achievements. Episode Timeline: [2:53] Jeff explains how things worked out for Dansons months after COVID started. [4:51] How advance planning with suppliers worked out for Dansons during the pandemic. [7:59] How to expand your bandwidth to handle a business’s demand and supply. [9:44] He explains how they have been able to strategically manage the business as a family business without any outside funding. [13:24] How Dansons have grown on socials with influencers and association with other brands over the last year. [16:09] He explains how they approach in-house marketing to maintain the business’s authenticity. [18:54] How they strategically market their products not to compete with their retailers. [21:46] How they highly depend on great leaders and teams to run things smoothly plus prayer. [24:52] Jeff explains their growth goals, offering the best without focusing on the competitors. [29:40] The key strategic hires that Dansons has done over the last year as they continue to expand. [37:11] The importance of hiring people according to their skillsets and the right attitude, not their academic qualifications. [40:03] Jeff describes how COVID has changed his perspective both professionally and personally. Quotes: “Other companies look at their businesses as financial instruments to just make money, we just like making great products so people can interact with.”- Jeff [12:29] “There’s no fancy software that’s going to help you overcome not having great people.”- Jeff [23:03] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18112262

How to Successfully Turnaround A Failing Business- Andy Bailen Ep85 03/05/2021

How to Successfully Turnaround A Failing Business- Andy Bailen Ep85 How to Successfully Turnaround A Failing Business How do you effectively turnaround a failing business? Many elements including less profits, bad leadership, and a crisis like Coronavirus can lead to a business failure- and it requires a strategic plan, objectives, and goals to complete a successful turnaround effort. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Andy Bailen on how to successfully turnaround a failing business. Andy founded 3Pe Consulting in 2009 and is an accomplished retail and consumer products senior C-level executive. He has an outstanding record of achievement in multi-billion-dollar companies as well as start-up businesses. Andy’s highly experienced in P&L management, strategic planning, business development, product development, global sourcing, finance, private equity, franchising, etc. Listen in to learn the importance of involving all business stakeholders in the turnaround process for it to be successful. You will also learn the value of having great people working for you as part of your trusted team. Key Takeaways: How a company’s leadership perspective can either make and break the turnaround efforts. The importance of talking to business stakeholders during the turnaround process, to help formulate the holistic view of a business existence then and now. The value of a robust balance sheet in a business for support during a crisis. The roles of a business’s leadership, teams, and departments in effecting a successful turnaround. How to use OKRs to measure goal effectiveness and teams’ performance accountability during the turnaround process. Episode Timeline: [2:10] Andy explains how they work in turnaround, temporary retailing, and franchising development. [3:19] He names some of the big companies they’ve worked with like Blockbuster, KB Toys, etc. [4:36] How he turned around Party City’s bordering bankruptcy situation to a success story. [7:29] How growth for the sake of growth instead of profitable growth ruins businesses. [9:45] He explains how the leadership of a company impacts the turnaround efforts of a business. [12:03] The steps that Andy and his team take into account during the first week of the turnaround process. [15:23] Why cash is the biggest concern for businesses to raise a turnaround flag, and not the other metrics. [17:18] Andy mentions all the KPIs they use, leading with profits and revenue margins. [22:14] Why businesses failed during the pandemic due to lack of sufficient working capital. [24:03] How a business leadership contributes to its failure and what needs to be done to have a successful turnaround. [29:40] Andy explains in detail how they use OKRs to drive for goal effectiveness and teams’ performance accountability. [35:29] How not to overwhelm the team with many goals and instead start with the high return goals. [39:55] Andy advises business owners to hire great people and allow them to work. Quotes: “In many cases, I found that leadership of a business just simply won’t face the reality that their business is either struggling or even failing.”- Andy [10:14] “Seventy percent of the time or so the companies are truly in trouble in losing money and burning through cash.”- Andy [14:40] “Many times, that senior leadership needs to change over to truly effect the successful turnaround.”- Andy [25:22] “You want to set goals around each element that goes into achieving the high-level goal.”- Andy [33:35] “You get much greater buy-in to the go-forward plan when you go to this turnaround effort collaboratively.”- Andy [34:25] “The one element of OKRs that I’ve seen people misunderstand from time to time is putting in immeasurable objectives.”- Andy [38:16] “Hire great people and let them do the work.”- Andy [39:55] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18112061

From Chocolate to Wine – Business Turnaround Secrets – Joe Fisch EP84 02/26/2021

From Chocolate to Wine – Business Turnaround Secrets – Joe Fisch EP84 Joe Fisch: How to Turnaround a Failing Business into a Thriving Business How do you turnaround a failing business into a thriving business? How about improving the customer experience and adopting a great team strategy? Gaining back the trust of your customers by putting them first is a great way to turnaround a business. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Joe Fisch on how he and his team turned around Wine Access to a trusted brand. Joe is the CEO of Wine Access, a leading direct-to-consumer online wine retailer offering exclusive curated wines from around the world. He’s the former Vice President of Finance and Administration in the same company and has a background in finance, having served in other organizations. Listen in to learn the importance of focusing on a customer experience strategy when turning around a company. You will also learn the importance of having great personal and professional support to perform at your best as a leader. Key Takeaways: How to transform a failing business into a successful one by focusing on pain points and customer experience. The importance of having a great management team to help the business move in the right way. How to let go of control as a leader and trust your team to utilize their expertise. Episode Timeline: [2:44] Joe explains how they source the best wine bottles in the world and market through storytelling. [5:08] He talks about their team size and their KPIs which are focused on customer experience. [8:09] How they shifted their focus to the customer experience at Wine Access after losing their business pillars for 2 years. [12:21] How he improved their wine supply by hiring right to make the process smooth. [14:37] How they improved the website by focusing on the pain points and upgrading the user experience. [16:37] The value of a great team in changing and driving the business forward. [18:00] Joe explains how they used their past failures to customers to straighten things out. [20:46] The importance of having personal and professional support to help you perform excellently as a leader. [23:09] How they’ve been taking more swings to encourage growth without unrealistic expectations. [24:53] The infrastructure challenge plus the tools they’re using to help improve operations. [27:00] The tools and products they use to manage the financial side of the business. [28:08] How Joe transitioned from financial language to understanding all departments’ languages. [30:55] Why you should spend more time with people to give you ideas on how to improve your business. [32:06] Joe advises maintaining the culture of not getting too high or getting too low. Quotes: “We’re going to be hyper-focused on what really drives the customer experience and anything that’s not really in that realm we’re going to push aside.”- Joe [11:12] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/18090152

Using Customer Product Reviews to Guide Your Business Strategy- Patricia Osorio Ep83 02/19/2021

Using Customer Product Reviews to Guide Your Business Strategy- Patricia Osorio Ep83 Patricia Osorio: How to Use Customer Reviews to Guide Your Business Strategy Did you know that you can use customer reviews to improve your product? Reviews give a great deal of consumer data that you can use to improve communication or product to fulfill customer needs. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Patricia Osorio, the cofounder of Birdie. Birdie is a SaaS company with a powerful AI platform that captures customer feedback from multiple sources. She is also the co-founder of GVAngels, an angel investor group that invested more than $5 million in several startups, and an active angel investor. Patricia has a background experience with Marketing, Product Management, and Business Development. Listen in to learn how customer reviews can help you understand the improvements needed in your business. You will also learn why you should first understand consumer problems when dealing with negative reviews before taking major actions. Key Takeaways: The importance of consumer reviews in encouraging validation economy and collecting consumer behavior data. Understanding the consumer data you can get or not get from consumer reviews. How to monitor, moderate, and reply to customer reviews through a system of engagement. Episode Timeline: [2:46] Patricia explains how Birdie helps companies understand their customers’ needs in a constant and deep way. [3:49] How Birdie focuses on getting feedback where conversations about a brand’s product are happening online. [5:20] She talks about her education and entrepreneurial background plus how Birdie was started. [7:02] She describes Birdie’s key metrics that include a healthy pipeline for revenue generation and ensuring proper product engagement. [9:49] Why consumers require reviews before buying and the importance of reviews for a company. [11:25] Patricia mentions some interesting sources where consumers are having conversations that are beneficial for your product. [14:14] She describes some of the things your brand can do to improve your customer reviews. [16:23] She mentions some interesting insights Birdie’s customers were able to pull out of their campaigns. [19:27] The type of data you can’t get from consumer reviews and need to combine other strategies. [21:42] Why you should first try to understand customer problems before acting on a negative review. [25:04] The three-step process you need to follow to measure KPIs and take action to improve customer reviews. [29:41] Patricia explains the opportunities they had with their first customer. [32:02] How to approach hiring talent by showing them your vision and dreams so they can help you get there. [35:21] The importance of focusing on one thing at a time as an entrepreneur to get the chance to grow. Quotes: “If you look at every opportunity at once, you will never get to the first place that you planned to get.”- Patricia [35:45] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17997218

How to Develop an MVP and Raise Capital for a Startup- Lauren Picasso Ep82 02/12/2021

How to Develop an MVP and Raise Capital for a Startup- Lauren Picasso Ep82 Lauren Picasso: How to Develop an MVP and Raise Capital for a Startup Thinking of launching a new product into the market? How about formulating an MVP to first test the market? This not only ensures feedback for your product before launching but also helps you understand what to invest in the business. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Lauren Picasso, the CEO, and founder of Cure Hydration, an electrolyte beverage that comes in powder form. She has a background in e-commerce and marketing, having worked in startups like Jet.com. Listen in to learn the importance of raising capital for your startup at the right time. You will also learn the process of formulating and developing an MVP to experiment with your product before launching. Key Takeaways: The importance of sharpening your skills in business before starting one. The value of having in your team when starting out, someone who’s already done it before. Why you should prioritize hiring for the roles where you have the least experience. How to create value for a startup and waiting for the appropriate time to raise money. Episode Timeline: [2:08] She explains what Cure Hydration is which is an organic electrolyte mix for oral hydration. [5:04] She explains how they’re using the LTV metric as the core KPI driver at Cure Hydration. [7:25] She talks about her background in e-commerce and marketing in retail background. [8:47] The Grassroot marketing they did when they first started and are continuing to do for their product. [11:12] Why she started Cure Hydration which is an effective product for active people. [12:49] The process that Lauren used to formulate and develop an MVP. [18:07] How they bootstrapped the Cure Hydration brand before launching a pilot based on feedback and engaging investors. [20:38] Lauren describes the titles of the team that forms Cure Hydration and the roles they each perform. [22:24] How they’re differentiating themselves by being the only organic product in their category, plus their initial sales strategy before approaching retailers. [24:38] How investors cared about profitability and cash efficiency during the pandemic. [27:54] Lauren advises founders to have a mindset of experimentation and creativity. [29:07] She explains how she was inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit. [30:41] What Lauren looks for in an entrepreneur before investing. Quotes: “What makes really a good entrepreneur is resilience, being able to handle rejection, and believes in their ideas.”- Lauren [30:56] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17896808

4 Common Marketing Mistakes – Brad Horowitz EP81 02/05/2021

4 Common Marketing Mistakes – Brad Horowitz EP81 Brad Horowitz: How to Approach the Marketing of Your Business in 2021 What does your marketing strategy for 2021 look like? Are you utilizing all the available avenues to get your brand out there without breaking the bank? There are many ways you can reach your target customer and make sales like using social media and leveraging relationships without breaking the bank. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Brad Horowitz, the CEO at Elite Marketing Group. He is a seasoned marketing leader, consultant, and speaker who is focused on delivering results-driven strategies to his clients. Listen in to learn the importance of measuring marketing metrics and the pitfalls you should avoid falling into when doing so. You will also learn the importance of outsourcing for a consultant to help you with your marketing strategy if you feel overwhelmed. Key Takeaways: How to leverage relationships to do affordable and effective marketing. How to measure your marketing objectives in both tangible and intangible ways. The importance of hiring a part-time expert to help your business with its marketing strategy on a budget. Learning how to stand out from the clutter on social media and digital media space to benefit from it. The value of engaging with your customers on social media or live as opposed to just marketing to them. Episode Timeline: [2:10] Brad explains what they do which is marketing brands, products, and services at events. [3:37] He talks about the types of companies they work with, which is a mix of both startups and large companies. [4:32] The types of marketing they do in addition to event marketing for companies. [7:01] Ways you can facilitate further purchasing after the type of marketing you’re engaging in. [8:36] Brad explains how to measure the outcome of any marketing efforts made by a brand or product. [11:16] The four common mistakes that businesses make when executing their marketing strategy. [13:09] Why you should be budgeting higher for your marketing strategy at its initial stages and make sure it delivering. [15:42] Why you shouldn’t focus on short-term tangible marketing when targeting the first-time sale. [17:59] How to utilize all available avenues to help with your marketing strategy as well as being the advocate of your business. [20:50] How to approach outsourcing for a part-time VP consultant to help you with your marketing strategy. [23:23] Brad explains some of the places you can get freelance/ part-time experts to assist you. [25:12] The digital trends that are going to shape businesses in 2021 and beyond. [28:00] The marketing lessons that Brad has learned in his marketing career. [31:06] Brad talks about a successful event they conducted for Nickelodeon that prompted immediate results. /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17830856

How to Build, Scale, And Sell Your Business- Chris Giles Ep80 01/29/2021

How to Build, Scale, And Sell Your Business- Chris Giles Ep80 How to Start, Scale, And Sell Your Business What defines an entrepreneur who is able to start, scale, and sell an extremely successful business? Business development requires more than just a strategy; it requires a good plan, a good team, and sufficient financials. In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Chris Gules, a veteran entrepreneur and sales expert with multiple successful ventures. He has done it all from how to start, scale, and sell your business. He grew up as a leader in an entrepreneurial environment and used his skills to build multiple companies while maintaining a social conscious to help others. He explains how after scaling and selling a high-performing business, he is now focused on helping other entrepreneurs walk the same path. Listen in to learn how trust and communication between you, the business owner, and your employees affects your business positively. You will also learn about the power of using technology as a tool to help work on your business. Key Takeaways: How to use technology to create a business system that is based on bettering customer service and experience. The importance of effective message communication within a business to move forward faster. The value of investing in technology as an essential tool to scale your business. Understanding the factors that define the multipliers that make your business sellable. Episode Timeline: [1:45] Chris narrates his entrepreneurial journey that started at a young age before he started growing and selling companies. [4:00] He explains how he started a business with a plan of selling it and worked towards ensuring its success long after he exited. [5:37] How he utilized his ability to start and scale a business before selling to his advantage of financial freedom and early retirement. [7:06] How his former company used technology to better transportation logistics. [13:02] How to start and scale a business with the right plan, team, and financials if you want to sell it later. [16:25] How Chris helps business owners realize what their maximum gains can be on scaling their businesses in all aspects before they can sell it. [18:44] The business development strategy that he uses to help business owners work on their businesses. [20:49] The importance of communication and trust between the business owner and employees to help move the business forward. [26:15] How to utilize the appropriate technology to help scale your business exponentially. [32:53] Chris explains the factors you should put in place before selling your business, plus how he sold his business with a nine PowerPoint slides presentation. [40:20] He shares why Carpe diem is his living philosophy. [42:36] Why a portion of your proceeds and energy as an entrepreneur should go to charity. Quotes: "Not how much I sell, but how much I make.”- Chris [14:39] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17725013

How Malcolm Fontier learned from a failed business to build a brand focused business – Malcom Fontier Ep79 01/22/2021

The Digital Content Marketing Strategy Playbook with Bernard Huang EP78 01/15/2021

The Digital Content Marketing Strategy Playbook with Bernard Huang EP78 How to Write Dominating SEO Ranking Content + How to Successfully Bootstrap Your Business SEO has for a long time been a defining factor when it comes to content marketing for brands. It is crucial for ranking on that coveted first page of Google search results. But what if you’re doing it wrong by thinking it will do it all to market your brand? In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters speaks with Bernard Huang, the co-founder at Clearscope. Clearscope is an AI-powered platform that helps brands create higher quality content and drive more organic traffic. He explains the importance of creating highly relevant content that targets the right audience on specific platforms. Listen in to learn why Google is set on promoting user intent and converting content rather than clickable content. You will also learn about the difference between bootstrapping your business and taking on an investor. Key Takeaways: Factors to consider when thinking SEO for your product that goes beyond the content you put out. Understanding Google’s future SEO strategy that will highly depend on user experience and results. How to overcome the competitive barrier by choosing an underserved niche that is SEO focused. How to successfully bootstrap your business rather than take on investors. Episode Timeline: [1:43] Bernard explains how Clearscope helps check if your content has accurately covered the subject matter. [4:34] How to align your content with user intent and Google to have higher chances of ranking on the first page. [7:16] Why content won’t do it all to help rank your product in search. [10:23] The factors to put into consideration when creating content for your brand, especially in its early stage. [14:49] Understanding the mistakes you should avoid when creating content for your brand. [18:54] Bernard explains what Google’s present and future look like for SEO and content searchability. [27:35] He narrates a story of one of his clients who successfully chose a less competitive niche to market his brand through content. [32:23] Bernard’s advice of whether to bootstrap or take on investment when looking to grow your business. Quotes: “The difference between bootstrapping and taking on investors is your own awareness of what kind of company you want to build, and why you want to build it that way.”- Bernard [37:57] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17545763

Moving your Product Manufacturing to Mexico – BRH2 Plastics – Ryan Fernandez EP77 01/08/2021

Moving your Product Manufacturing to Mexico – BRH2 Plastics – Ryan Fernandez EP77 All You Need to Know About Manufacturing in Mexico and Its Logistics Think about all the manufacturing logistics and production processes moved from China to somewhere closer to home. Doesn’t it sound fantastic and much easier to have production costs and time reduced significantly if everything was moved to Mexico? Yes, Mexico! In this episode of the Page One Podcast, Luke Peters interviews Ryan Fernandez, the CEO and co-founder of BRH2 Plastics, a plastics injection molding factory based in Hermosillo, Mexico. He was the CEO and Co-Founder of Boon and Keen Distribution, now referred to as BKD – a subsidiary of Tomy, following the full asset sale to Tomy Inc., a publicly-traded company in Japan in August of 2011. He shares a detailed description of what it means to manufacture from Mexico and how it has significantly made things easier for them at BRH2 Plastics. Listen in to learn how a business-based relationship between the US and Mexico could mutually benefit the two neighbors solving many of their differences. You will also learn the importance of creating a management style that focuses on people’s growth without also delegating excess authority. Key Takeaways: The importance of building relationships that will help make things easier when buying or setting a factory outside of the US. How to create a style of management that cares for its people and their growth within an organization. How manufacturing in Mexico has made things easier in production, time, and cost compared to China. Finding out how to partner with shipping companies with much better rates than small business rates. How not to give a sense of authority to people beyond what their sense of authority should be as a leader lest it backfires. Episode Timeline: [2:46] Ryan explains how he and his team brainstormed to make manufacturing less painful by doing it closer to home. [6:16] The logistics that were involved to make setting a factory in Mexico possible- from relationships to money. [8:45] He explains the time it took them to start manufacturing and the types of products they manufacture. [13:03] How Ryan handles financial strategies as his partner Hector handles the day-to-day operations on the ground. [15:01] He explains how they’re working towards improving the management style to be about the people. [18:58] How the supply chain is changing from China and China plus one; to a possibility of completely replacing China. [20:46] The advantages of manufacturing in Mexico over China in terms of time and cost. [22:45] He explains how they handle the production process plus the production model they follow from when the order is made until its delivered. [30:38] Learning how to properly handle shipping and getting better margins from shipping companies. [33:32] The importance of a business analyst in analyzing the product trends and recognizing what is of importance in your business. [37:16] Ryan describes what he believes were his biggest mistakes in business. Quotes: “The art of delegation is vital and the art of me having people feel fantastic inside the organization, but I’ve learned that you can take that too far.”- Ryan [38:59] /episode/index/show/page1podcast/id/17440730

Apex CEO - Grow Your Business & Exit With Luke Peters

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